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A London businessman has become the first man in Britain to be fitted with a new "bionic" leg.
Matthew Newbury, who lost the limb in a motorbike accident, said the "third generation" device had changed his life overnight. It promises to revolutionise the quality of life of amputees.
The Genium leg allows him to walk up stairs, walk backwards, cope with rough terrain and stand for long periods with his knee locked.
It is controlled by microprocessors and has a gyroscope and accelerometer, which measure gradient and speed, and can differentiate between when a person is standing still and walking. It also has 10 modes for activities including cycling, cross-country skiing and golf.
One key advance is Optimised Physiological Gait technology, which allows for a gait close to a natural one.
The 30-year-old property developer, who lives in Covent Garden, has had a prosthesis for 15 years. But he said the new one "has given me a whole new lease of life. It's a vast change.
"With my old leg, a lot of the time I'd be walking gingerly, avoiding tripping up, but now I can walk with much more confidence, I can climb stairs in a much more natural and normal way.
"But the best thing is I'm not tired all the time. I have my life back. I can go out for drinks and dinner until late without feeling exhausted."
The £50,000 leg, made by German company Otto Bock Healthcare, was first launched in the US and Germany. Two months ago the firm contacted Mr Newbury's clinic, ProActive Prosthetics in Elstead, Surrey, and his prosthetist recommended him as the ideal candidate to trial the system in Britain.
The businessman, who runs Newbury Developments, lost his left leg aged 15, when he was a pillion passenger on a motorbike struck by a Land Rover. He spent more than 18 months in hospitals and rehabilitation centres as doctors battled to save his right leg and carried out 11 skin grafts.
In 2004 he was awarded £2.1 million compensation over the crash.
His prosthetist, Richard Nieveen, said: "This is a third-generation prosthesis. The development is very significant and has given Matthew a greater level of freedom. It's a very exciting time."
Reader views (7)
If someone is unfortunate enough to lose a limb is it not the moral obligation of society to do all possible to help such a person to regain as much mobility as possible and to be able to do the same as before or at least as much as is technically possible. It is so easy for those of us who fortunately do not suffer such loss to pontificate on why the best should not be made available to amputees on the grounds of cost. We seem to be able to justify the high cost of war must easier than the cost of giving back independence to amputees. I notice the US gives all its service amputees the very best that money can buy whilst our servicemen have to fight for the best the system will offer. We are always able to find money for what politicians consider important it would seem. And that applies to ALL political parties!
- John Wallman, Cambridge, UK, 30/11/2011 16:30
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WRONG WRONG WRONG Otto Bock Website: "The unique Genium technology is NOT a next-generation C-Leg, but is a sophisticated NEW technology platform built to gather exponentially greater microprocessor inputs that result in very precise responses"
- D, London, 10/11/2011 20:05
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I suggest you call Otto Bock straight away then, as their website reads "The unique Genium technology is NOT a next-generation C-Leg, but is a sophisticated NEW technology platform built to gather exponentially greater microprocessor inputs that result in very precise responses" which hopefully should straighten that point out for you. As far as the “servicing” not covering everything, again you don’t seem to have much of a clue about that either, the technical information on Otto Bock’s website reads “Six-year manufacturer warranty (including) REPAIR COSTS, Service inspections in the 24th and 48th months, Service unit for use during REPAIRS and service inspections”. So, like I mentioned before you were, and continue to be completely wrong and all levels. As far as my area of expertise, other than being able to read, I buy and sell bridges for a living, how much do you want for yours and where are you going to move to?
- D, London, 10/11/2011 19:55
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I suggest you call Otto Bock straight away then, as their website reads "The unique Genium technology is NOT a next-generation C-Leg, but is a sophisticated NEW technology platform built to gather exponentially greater microprocessor inputs that result in very precise responses" which hopefully should straighten that point out for you. As far as the “servicing” not covering everything, again you don’t seem to have much of a clue about that either, the technical information on Otto Bock’s website reads “Six-year manufacturer warranty (including) REPAIR COSTS, Service inspections in the 24th and 48th months, Service unit for use during REPAIRS and service inspections”. So, like I mentioned before, you were, and continue to be completely wrong and all levels here. As far as my area of expertise, other than being able to read, I buy and sell BRIDGES for a living, how much do you want for yours and where are you going to move to?
- D, London, 10/11/2011 19:52
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Wrong - I know plenty about it. It IS a c-leg, just an updated one. The costs ARE ongoing - servicing is like any other 'servicing' - it's maintenance, not everything. You think this article covers the whole? Hey, I've got a bridge you might be interested in buying. And what? No rubbishing of my comment about people thinking their entitled to one of these rather than the basic prosthetic? Or did that one ring true. I'm in medical insurance, what's your area of expertise?
- Rogan, Irving, 10/11/2011 06:47
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Your completely and totally wrong here. This ISN'T a C-LEG, its a new product which was launched today called Genium manufactured by the same company, read the article above if your interested... Also, the £50k quoted also covers servicing for 6 years as mentioned in other articles about this, so please don't spout drivel about things you clearly know nothing about.
- D, London, 09/11/2011 20:27
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The Otto Bock C-leg (together with other c-prostheses) has been around for a few years now - and he's the 1st in the UK to get one? Seems unlikely. Good kit though - expense will limit it (although there will be many heart-rending stories of how it is everyone's 'right' rather than a regular prosthetic leg). High tech gear costs hard cash to maintain as well as to buy.
- Rogan, Irving, 09/11/2011 16:56
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